Drivers to enjoy 20km toll-free in freeway plan

By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

The National Freeway Bureau yesterday announced the rates it would use under its new “pay as you go” policy, with each motor vehicle being given 20km of toll-freeway use per day before they have to start paying.

Currently, freeway drivers are charged toll fees whenever they drive through a toll booth. Following the “pay as you go” policy, drivers would pay toll fees based on the distance traveled instead.

The bureau finalized the toll fee scheme after having its proposed rates examined by the Legislative Yuan. It also tested public opinion on its proposals by conducting telephone surveys several times in the past year.

Based on the rates announced by the bureau yesterday, each motor vehicle can drive 20km toll-free daily.

If the entire driving distance for the day is between 20km and 200km, a small vehicle’s driver is charged NT$1.2 per kilometer. A large vehicle’s driver would pay NT$1.5 per kilometer. A large truck’s driver is charged NT$1.8 per kilometer.

Should the driving distance exceed 200km, the rates for small vehicles, large vehicles and large trucks would be NT$0.9, NT$1.12 and NT$1.35 per kilometer respectively.

Each driver is to be charged by the travel distance recorded on eTags. Those who do not have eTags on their windshields are to be charged using image recognition technology, the bureau said.

To encourage more freeway users to pay toll fees using the electronic toll collection system, the bureau said drivers using eTags can continue to enjoy a 10 percent discount on toll fees after the nation starts enforcing the “pay as you go” policy, providing that there is enough money in their eTag account for payment.